Dear friends, esteemed leaders, our esteemed guests, esteemed journalists. Today is the first meeting in this new format, which unites us all thanks to the Carpathians. For the first time here, in Ukraine, in our part of the Carpathians, a summit that unites all the Carpathian states, regions of our states, communities of our states. This is a very serious beginning of a movement that should bring our countries even closer together, create another strong element of interaction at the level of the European Union : security, energy, a significant expansion of logistics, cross-border economic cooperation, and substantial support for our communities. And we are launching this new format, the C8 Carpathian Eight, which unites us and our neighbors in Europe. I am very pleased to welcome here in our Ukrainian Carpathians the presidents of Romania, the president of Serbia, the prime minister of Poland, representatives of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Madam President, representatives, representatives of Hungary, please join us this evening at the opening of the economic part of our summit. And, of course, there will be a lot of work with the European Union tonight and tomorrow here, in our Frankivsk region. Dear friends, dear leaders, the Carpathians are not only picturesque, they are also an important component of the strength of our states and Europe as a whole. Mountains that do not separate, but unite regions thanks to the leading transport and logistics routes of the Carpathians. It is here that we have developed powerful cross-border, trade, and energy ties that are of crucial importance to our countries. Our strategic gas storage facilities, some of the largest in Europe, are also located here. And another important aspect, like the Alps, the Carpathians are one of the leading mountain regions in Europe, with a unique and complex climate, as well as infrastructural and institutional challenges. A significant part of these issues can only be solved through joint efforts. In the long term, the importance of the Carpathian region, our border territories, and our cooperation will grow. Russia is building its policy around a long-term confrontation with a united Europe. Instead, our peoples seek the opposite: a united Europe, a Europe with an effective regional policy. And here, in the Carpathians, we face many practical tasks that require constant coordination. We need better transportation and logistics solutions. We need more capacity to move significant volumes of cargo. We need to accelerate the modernization of roads and railway infrastructure. We need military mobility that strengthens defense capabilities. We need more storage, more renewable energy, the region's critically important coal resources, strengthened trade ties and manufacturing partnerships. It is necessary to build additional connections between the energy systems of our countries and it is certainly necessary to attract significantly greater investment into the Carpathian region. The Carpathian microregion is a natural European gateway for routes from the South Caucasus and Asia via the Black Sea. These routes operate today and will remain relevant in the future. Whether it is freight, electricity, or the movement of people through Constanta, Varna, or Odessa, they all pass through the Carpathian region on their way to other Central European countries. Previously, the Carpathians were mainly considered as a region of tourism, climate issues, and support for local communities. Today, the Carpathians can and should become one of the key drivers of economic growth, investment, and energy exports. Secondly, the Carpathian region should occupy a prominent place in the policies of the European Union with appropriate resource provision for their implementation. Yes, in the north we cooperate with the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. In the south, interaction is developing within the Danube region and around the Black Sea. We also maintain close cooperation with the Balkan countries and Southeastern Europe. And the Carpathian initiative turns the Carpathians into the strongest such connecting link for all neighboring regions. I am grateful to all of you. Thank you very much for coming. I am very grateful for your support for Ukraine's European path . And today, Ukraine and Serbia, two states that will become members of the European Union, are represented here. Our people deserve this. Of course, actually, uh, everyone wants to become part of a united Europe. And thanks to the joint work of our communities, our initiatives, and, most importantly, concrete results, we are steadily approaching the main goal of full membership in the European Union. May this initiative, the Carpathian initiative, also serve to bring us closer to this goal. And may our Carpathian macroregion and each of our nations become stronger. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine! Yeah.